TT whip Leewards by 178 runs

CHARLOTTE AMALIE: Trinidad and Tobago defeated the Leeward Islands by 178 runs and a day to spare in the seventh round of the Carib Beer Series First-Class regional cricket tournament  yesterday.

Scores: Trinidad and Tobago 303 and 379/7 vs. Leeward Islands 158 and 344.

Leeward Islands skipper Stuart Williams put up a fight by scoring a 167, but after his dismissal, the Leeward Islands hopes of reaching the 525 required for victory diminished. Continuing at 313 for four, Brian Lara on 110 and Zaheer Ali on two batted cautiously and when the score was 340, Ali was run out for six. Lendl Simmons came in and took it quite easy while Lara played his shots, striking the ball all over the field. But when he reached 151, he was bowled by Adam Sanford. He struck 20 fours, and two sixes in his innings, which lasted 187 minutes. He faced 172 deliveries. Lara, who scored 53 in the first innings and 151 in the second innings, received “Man-of-the-Match” honours. Trinidad’s qualification for the semi-final round, which begins Friday, depends on the match between Jamaica and India “A,” which enters its fourth and final day today. If India “A” loses, Trinidad will qualify.